Doll Books

I haven't really been in the mood for chatting lately, hence the long absence from posting. However, thanks to an email from a friend over the weekend, I am feeling much brighter, so I decided to share some recent purchases.

These books are coming from the USA so I shan't be expecting to receive them anytime soon, as most of my parcels have been taking well over a month to arrive from overseas.

The first book "A Closetful of Doll Clothes" is written by Rosemarie Ionker. In it she shares her techniques for creating an entire wardrobe of dresses, pinafores, coats and underclothing from a few basic patterns, which are adjustable for dolls ranging from 11.5 to 20 inches.

The second book, "Helen Kish: The Artist and Her Dolls" by Louise Fecher, documents in full colour the extensive variety of Helen's creations, from her earliest porcelains in the late 1970's to the popular vinyl Riley and friends.

Ms. Fecher has also written a biography of the charismatic artist, based on extensive interviews, which is accompanied by never-before-seen personal photographs and examples of her early artwork. This beautiful book is the definitive illustrated guide to Helen's first three decades of work.

I've admired Helen's work for some years and have three of her dolls in my own collection . . . 12" Flora (LE 1997), 7" Fiesta Blue Riley (2005) and 7" Concert Zsu Zse (2006).

Next is a book, or perhaps I should say a catalogue, which features a wide range of beautiful Madame Alexander dolls from the Martha Hester Collection which was auctioned by Theriault's in January, 2009.

Complied by Florence Theriault, it's hundred pages include photographs of dolls which appear just as they were made over a half century ago. These rare beauties are all dressed in costumes designed by Madame herself, each one finished to perfection with ribbons, lace and silk flowers.

Values, which include the amount each doll was expected to reach at auction and that which was actually realised, are also shown.

My own M.A. collection includes two later editions, a "Romantic Dreams" Cissy (2000 Ltd.Ed. Couture Collection) and a 10 inch "Millenium Masquerade" Cissette (1999 Special Edition).

The final book, "Tonner: Twenty Years of Fashion and Design" by Pat Henry, who is well known within the doll collecting community as the creator and editor in chief of one of the industry's top doll publications, "Fashion Doll Quarterly", gives us and inside peek at Tonner's design studio and the former Tonner Doll Company.

Robert Tonner, as most of us know, has been one of the most foremost doll designers in the world. For twenty years he continued to challenge himself and innovate and I am delighted to finally find this book to see how his creations all come together.

Over the past eighteen months I have been so lucky to find a wonderful selection of his dolls . . .  a Tiny Betsy McCall, two Tonner/Effanbee Patsy's (a 2013 Basic #5 and a 2015 "Lacy Summer Day"), a "Bridal Bliss" Sindy, a "Want To Dance" Agatha Primrose, and two Tiny Kitty Colliers (a 2004 Basic Redhead and a 2003 Evening Gala). Each one has been a delight, so beautifully made and dressed I haven't had the heart to re-dress them, apart from the Basic Redhead which is now wearing another of Robert's stylish outfits in the photo below.

Well that's it for today my lovelies, I hope you are all feeling well and are happily enjoying your dolls.

Christmas Came Early at Our House

My tiny dolls have very little patience, I think they take after me! LOL! So when some of them saw the presents under the tree this morning, they thought Santa had come early and NOW was the right time for them to open all of their presents. Fortunately, I managed to stop them before they opened the lot. I told them they could each open just one present and the rest will have to stay under the tree until the proper day. :)

From left to right: 8 " porcelain Dianna Effner doll, Fairyland Puki Fee, PetWORKs Ruruko, 7" Helen Kish Riley.

I shall be back before the New Year with this year's roundup. In the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas with your families. I hope you all receive what you wished for.

Big hugs,

X

Three Wee Kish Dolls

Well after much toing and froing I finally made the decision not to purchase the Kish dolls that had a vinyl head and plastic body regardless of their mobility and went with the all vinyl dolls instead.

Flora

So Flora (12" LE 1997 Kish Collection) and two 7.5" dolls, a Fiesta Blue Riley (2005) and a Concert Zsu Zse (2006), should arrive shortly.

L: Zsu Zse & R: Fiesta Blue Riley

All the dolls are new in box, with hand painted faces and five way jointing. Being small in size, it made sense to bring them home together to save on postage.

These were all so very reasonably priced, they may well become experimental dolls, who will undergo changes down the track, but only time will tell.  :)

Helen Kish Dolls

I'm having real problems coming to a decision as to which of these dolls to purchase next. I have only seen photos of Helen's dolls and never held one or even seen one in real life.

L: 12"/30.5cm vinyl ... R: 12"/30.5cm BJD (Soom iMda 3.00 size)

There is something about each of them that I love, but if you own one I'd really like to hear your thoughts on the finish/quality of these dolls or perhaps you can share a link to a review.

L: 7.5"/19cm vinyl (FL RealFee size) ... R: 14"/35.5cm BJD (IH KID size)

Maybe a different perspective from you will help me bring one home soon . . . I hope so. :)

~oOo~

P.S. I found six more half price boxes at Knox Shopping Centre when we went to the cinema last week, so I have used one for the yellow, cream & white wool, and the other five for my fat quarter fabrics.

Top (which you cannot see) has all my shades of pink ~ pale to hot.
Then my red, burgundy and lilac.
Green, yellow, light tan.
Blue, aqua and grey.
Bottom is full of orange and black fabric ~ for Halloween!